Car underframe



. 1,628,924 May 1927' w. M. SHEEHAN CAR UNDERFRAME Filegl Dec. 28 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I): van for.

ay 1927' w. M. 'SHEEHAN CAR UNDERFRAME F iled Dec. 28 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIIIIIIIA Patented May 17, 1927.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM in. snnnnan,

STEEL COMPANY, or ST. LOUIS, mrssoum,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOB TO COMMONWEALTH A CORQBORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

can UNDEBFBAME.

Application filed December 28, 1925. Serial 1W0. 77,928.

major portion of the bufiing. and pulling stresses to the car side sills which terminate at the bolster. Preferably the above described structure is completed and reinforced by the provision of a transverse member spaced inwardly from the bolster and to which the draft sills extend. My underframe is adapted to be mounted upon trucks of the type described in Patent No. 995,560, issued June 20, 1911, to H. M. Pflager, and more particularly described and explained in the co-pending Pflager' application, Serial No. 34,706, filed June 3, 1925, in which the car underframe is pivotally assembled with the car truck at the sides of the truck. The main object of my invention is to eliminate diagonal members connecting the draft and side sills of the underframe as have previously been used in underframes of this type, and to transfer the stresses which have been taken care of by such diagonal members by means of the transverse bolster. An additional object of my invention is to embody the structure described in a one-piece casting thereby securing a maximum degree of strength for a iven weight of material.

n theaccompanying drawings which il'- lustrate a selected embodiment of my invention- Figure 1 is a top view of my improved underframe in the form of a one-piece cast- %igure 2 is in part a longitudinal vertical section on line 2-2 of Figure 1- and in part a side elevation.

Figure 3 is in part a vertical transverse section on line 3-3 of Figure 1, and in part an end elevation.

Figures4 to 8 are sections taken respectively 8-8.'

Fi ure 9 is a section taken on line 9-9 of Figure 2.

Fi re 10 is a section taken on line 10-10 of Figure 1,

on lines 4-4, 5-5, 6-6, 7-7 and The main elements of the under-frame are the side sills 1, bolster 2, draft sills 3, and a transom member 4 spaced inwardly from the bolster 2. The draft sills 3 extend forwardly of bolster 2 and terminate at a striking plate 5 and coupler carrier 6. The draft sills are box-shaped in cross-section and the bolster 2 is also box-shaped in cross-section. The outer side wall 3 of each draft sill is offset at the bolster, but is parallel with the center line of the car throughout its length, the inner side wall 3" of the draft sill is inclined outwardly from the bolster rearwardly for a portion of its length.

The draft sills terminate with member 4 which forms a support for the bottom of the hopper and floor plates and this member 4 is reinforced by the spaced walls of the draft sills. The lower walls of the draft sills merge with a, suitable flange 7 which extends along the bottom of member 4 between the draft sills and the side sills.

The box-shaped bolster is provided with transverse walls 8 at intervals and bearings 9 are provided on the lower wall of the bolster for being pivotally assembled with the side frame of the truck. The upper and lower walls of the draft sills and bolster are connected with each other by curved flanges 11 of substantial area so as to suitably absorb the bufiing and other stresses transmitted from the draft sills through the bolster or vice versa.

The side sills 1 terminate at the bolster and are provided with suitable pads 10 for attaching the car superstructure, airbrakes,

and operating mechanism, etc. These pads are more particularly described and exlained in my co-Ipending application, Serial 0. 76,479, filed ecember 19, 1925.

The upper faces of the draft sills, bolster. side sills, member 4 and the upperflanges 11 connecting these elements are all located in subs tantially the same horizontal plane, thereby forming a platform-like surface for mounting such equipment as is usually placed beneath the hopper end floor. Obviously the corners of the car underframe may be completed by suitable light struetural members such as will be necessary to carry the car. adders and support the uppzr end of the car hopper floor. Such memrs form no part 0 my present invention but are illustrated in m co ending application Serial No. 79,782, led anuary 7, 1926.

The above described construction provides spaced box-shaped draft sills from the end of the hopper to the end of the car and extending substantially beyond the ends of the side sills. These draft sills are braced by and transfer their stresses to s box-shaped bolster which carries the superimposed load near its ends and distributes the buffing and pulling loads to the side sills, the latter distribution being assisted materially by the transom 4.

Obviously, the details described may be varied without eliminating the principles of my invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In a one piece car underframe casting, a bolster, and bearings on said bolster near the ends thereof for pivotally engaging a truck, and bolster reinforcing members extending transversely of the bolster adjacent to said bearings.

2. In a one piece car underframe casting,

a box-shaped bolster, and bearings on said bolster between its side walls near the ends thereof for pivotally engaging a truck, and bolster reinforcing members extending transyersely of the bolster adjacent to said bearings.

3. In a one piece car underframe casting,

a bolster, bearings on said bolster near the.

ends thereof for pivotally engaging a truck, and draft sills projecting outwardly from said bolster intermediate said bearings, and bolster reinforcing membersextending transyersely ofthe bolster adjacent to said bearmgs.

' 4. In a one piece ear underframe casting,

' a bolster, bearings on said bolster near the ends thereof for pivotally engaging a truck, and box-shaped draft SlllS projecting outwardly from said bolster intermediate said box-shaped draft sills projecting transverse- I of said bolster intermediate said bearings,

I and arcuate flanges of substantial radius connecting the upper and lower walls of said bolster and draft sills.

7 In a car underframe, side sills termina ing short of the end of theunderframe, a

bolster connecting the ends of said side sills,

a cross-member connecting the said side sills at a point spaced from their ends and form ing a support for the lower edge of ahopper, and draft sills extending from said member outwardly of the car past said bolster.

, 8. In a car underframe, side sills terminating short of the end ofthe car, a bolster connecting the ends of said side sills, bearings on said bolster near said side sills for pivotally en aging a truck, and draft sills extendlng forwardly of said bolster.

. 9. In a car underframe, side sills terminating short of the end of the car, a bolster connecting the ends of said side sills, and spaced draft sills, each box-shaped in cross-section, extending outwardly from said bolster.

10. In a car underframe, side sills terminating short of the end of the car, a bolster connecting the ends of said side sills,

and spaced draft sills, each box-shaped in cross-section, extending outwardly and inwardl from said bolster.

11. n a car underframe, side sills terminating short of the end of the car, a bolster connecting the ends of said side sills, and spaced draft sills, each box-shaped in cross-section, extending outwardly and inwardly from said bolster, the outer wall of each of said draft sills being offset at said bolster.

12. In a car underframe, side sills terminating short of the end of the car, a bolster connecting the ends of said side sills, and spaced draft sills, each box-shaped in cross-section, extending outwardly and inwardly. from said bolster, the outer wall of each of said draft sills being located farther from the corresponding inner wall behind the bolster thanin front of the bolster.

13. In a car underframe, side sills, a,bolster, a transverse member spaced from said bolster forming the end of the hopper opening and extending between said side sills, and draft sills extending from said crossmember past said bolster to the end of the car.

14. In a car underframe, side sills, a boxshaped bolster, hearings on the latter near its ends forpivotally engaging a truck, a transverse member spaced from said bolster, forming the end of the hopper opening'and extending between said side sills, and boxshaped draft sills extending from said crossmember past said bolster to the end of the car.

15. In a car underframe, side sills terminating a substantial distance'from the end of the underframe, a bolster connecting the ends of said sidesills, draft sills extending a from the end of the underframe past said bolster and then diverging inpart to the hopper opening. I

16. In a car underframe, side sills terminating a substantial distance from the end of the underframe, a bolster connecting the ends of said side sills, draft sills extending from the ends'of the underframe ,past said bolster and each comprising an inner wall inclined outwardly from the bolster'to said member and an inner wall parallel with the center line of the car and offset at said bolster.

17. In a car underframe, side sills terminating short of'the end of the underframe, a bolster connecting the ends of said side sills, and an inclined cross member, the lower portion of which extends in a straight line between said sills and the upper portion of which is inclined toward the ends of the car from each side sill inwardly.

18. In a car underframe, side sills terminating short of the end of the underframe, abolster connecting the ends of said side sills, a cross-member connecting the said side sills at a point spaced from their ends and forming a su port for the lower edge of a hopper, and raftsills extending from said member outwardly of the car past said bolster, the bod of said member bein straight betweensai draft sills and outsi e of said draft sills being curved toward said side sills and toward the middle of the car.

porting members carried by the ends of said sills. 4

20. In a car underframe, side sills terminating' short of the end of the car, a bolster connectin the ends of said side sills, bearings on said bolster near said side sills for pivotal] engrafiing a truck, draft sills extending orwa superstructure posts carried on the ends of said side sills.

21. In a hopper car underframe, a bolster, a transverse member s aced inwardly from said bolster, draft sil between said bolster and member and including portions diverging rearwardly, said member extendy of said'bolster, and

ing outwardly and rearwardly from said I draft sills to the sides of the underframe.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature this 21 day of November, 1925.

WILLIAM M. SHEEHLN. 

